MATHEW SKIPTON Mathew Skipton, at one time actively connected with agricultural interests in Henry county, is now living retired at his pleasant home farm in ^Marion township, this rest being vouchsafed to him by reason of his honorable and well directed labor in former years. He was born in Washington county, Ohio, on the 7th of February, 1828, his parents being John and Martha (Paris) Skipton, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1794, and the latter in 1796. He was a native of Mifflin county, and devoted his energies to farm work. On the nth of March, 1820, he married Miss Paris, who died December 19, 1850, at the age of fifty-four years, while his death occurred on the 27th of December, 1889, in the ninety-fifth years of his age. He had become a resident of Ohio in 1808, in which year he located in Marietta, and at the time of the second war with England he responded to the country's call for aid, becoming a member of Captain John Thomley's command of the Ohio militia. In the early days he rented a keel boat on the Ohio river and was recognized as the best boatman of his time and community. He displayed great energy and capability in all of his business affairs, and it was said that he could cradle more grain in a day than any other one man in the county. All his life was given to farm work, with the exception of the time spent on the river, and he owned and conducted a good farm property in Washington county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1820. He cast his first presidential vote for Monroe, and supported each democratic presidential candidate up to and including the year 1884, when he cast his ballot for Grover Cleveland, thus having voted at seventeen different presidential elections. He filled various township and local offices, being township clerk for many years, and justice of the peace from 1845 until 1857. In the latter year he was chosen township treasurer and filled the office until 1875. Each position to which he was called found in him a worthy incumbent, for he discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. In his family were six sons and three daughters: Sebastian and Francis, both deceased; John, who is living in Republic county, Kansas; Jane, the wife of George Hih, of Marietta, Ohio ; Samuel, living in Washington county, Ohio ; Matthew, of this review; William, who died in 1903; Mary Ann and Martha, who are residing in Marietta, Ohio.  Mathew Skipton acquired his education in the district schools of his native state, and was reared to farm labor, spending his youth upon his father's old homestead. When about twenty-one years of age he engaged in working in his father's quarry and also made trips on a flatboat at times on the Ohio river. Desirous of becoming the owner of land, he made his way to Appanoose county, Iowa, where, in 1852, he entered one hundred and forty-two acres from the government The following year he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast, and spent a year in Portland, Oregon, after which he went over the mountains to California, where he remained for three years, working in gold mines. By the way of the isthmus and New York he returned to Marietta, Ohio, and later engaged in the cultivation and improvement of his farm in Appanoose county, Iowa, where he remained for nine years, selling that property in 1865. In 1864 he was commissioned by Governor Stone as captain in the Iowa militia, but was not called out for active duty. On selling his Appanoose county farm, he purchased one hundred acres of partially improved land, where he now lives, building the house thereon, and has added all of the other improvements.  With the passing years, owing to the care and labor he has bestowed upon the place, this farm has greatly appreciated in value until it is today worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Skipton tilled the soil, cultivated the crops best adapted to soil and climate, and was also extensively engaged in stock-raising, until about five years ago, when advancing age caused him to retire from active farm work, and he is now enjoying a well earned ease.  On the 26th of August, 1856. occurred the marriage of Mathew Skipton and Miss Elizabeth Winters, who was born in Lincolnshire, England, September 1, 1831, a daughter of John and Caroline (Cook) Winters, both of whom were natives 01 England, the father having been born on Christmas day, 1800, and the mother on the 7th of January of the same year. They came to America in 1834, crossing  the Atlantic on an old-time sailing vessel, which was nine weeks in making the voyage. They suffered many privations and hardships during the trip, for the vessel lost its course and encountered some severe weather. After living in the east for a number of years, Mr. Winters came to Iowa from Pennsylvania, in 1850, and purchased a farm in Henry county, having two hundred acres which adjoined the Skipton farm. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits up to the time of his death, in 1885, his wife surviving until 1889. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were people of the highest respectability, enjoying in large measure the confidence and good will of those who knew them. In their family were nine children : Sarah, who is the widow of Frank Skipton, and resides in Canaan township ; Ann, the wife of John Skipton, of Kansas ; Elizabeth, now the wife of Mathew Skipton; Charles, who is living in Canaan township ; Sophia, the wife of James Thomas, of Winfield; John, who died at the age of sixty years. The other children died in childhood.  The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Skipton was blessed with nine children, of whom seven are yet living : Sebastian, born in Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1858, is living with his parents and has charge of the farm ; Alary, born in Appanoose county in 1860, is the wife of Lewis Allender, of South Dakota, and they have four children — Olive, Alta Grace. Ray and Ellis. Frank, born in 1861, and now living in New London township, married Ella Litzenburg, and has six children — Walter. Mabel, Mary E., Ethel, Alma and one deceased. Joseph, born in 1864, is living in South Dakota. Sarah, born in Henry county in 1866, was the wife of Robert Gatt, and died at Yarmouth, Des Moines county, Iowa, February 14, 1906. Olive, born in 1868, is the wife of Wallace Matthews, of Danville, Iowa. David, born in 1870, married Ida Hammerquist and resides in South Dakota.  The farm on which Mr. Skipton resides lies on sections 12 and 13, Marion township, and returns to him a good income. He and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is unfaltering in his allegiance to the democratic party, to which he has long given inflexible support. For nine years he served as school director, and for a similar period was president of the board. He has also been road supervisor, and his public duties have been discharged with the same capability that he has brought to his private interests. He has lived to witness many changes in this county and in Iowa since he came to the state, for at the time of his arrival here there were no railroads, telegraphs nor telephones. Few farms had been fenced, and only here and there were seen the homes of the pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Skipton are highly intelligent and worthy people, fully meriting the rest which they are now enjoying.  ©2009 Genealogy Trails